JID：科学家发现狂犬病疫苗可对抗艾滋病

We analyzed the safety and immunogenicity of attenuated rabies virus vectors expressing simian-human immunodeficiency virus (SHIV)189.6P Env or simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV)mac239 Gag in rhesus macaques. Four test macaques were immunized with both vaccine constructs, and 2 control macaques received an empty rabies vector. Seroconversion against rabies virus glycoprotein (G) and SHIV89.6P Env was detected after the initial immunization, but no cellular responses against SHIV antigens were observed. HIV/SIV-specific immune responses were not enhanced by boosts with the same vectors. Therefore, we constructed vectors expressing SHIV89.6P Env and SIVmac239 Gag in which the rabies G was replaced with the G protein of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV). Two years after initial immunization, a boost with the rabiesVSV G vectors resulted in SIV/HIV-specific immune responses. Upon challenge with SHIV89.6P test macaques controlled the infection, whereas control macaques had high levels of viremia and a profound loss of CD4+ T cells, with 1 control macaque dying of an AIDS-like disease.